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Former President Trump has yet again declared he would urge FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a host city based on that city's political climate, with Massachusetts emerging as the third such city to face such threats from the White House. Additionally, Trump indicated he would evaluate comparable measures against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to perceived security concerns.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump lacks direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either event, he can lobby the respective governing bodies overseeing each competition to move locations.

Setting for Statements

His comments were made during a media briefing with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the revelation of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the Argentine nation. Toward the end of the event, a reporter inquired Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in the city where police officers were assaulted and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also asked if these incidents could result in the loss of tournament responsibilities for the expanded World Cup.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president said concerning the FIFA World Cup games, planned to be hosted at Gillette Stadium. “She is not good … she is radical left, and activists are occupying parts of Boston. That is a significant assertion, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Public disruptions, a online-fueled occurrence where large crowds congregate on public avenues during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have become a frequent issue in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Recent incidents have turned violent in Massachusetts, specifically in the city. However, these events are usually not seen as linked to any particular political ideology.

“If a city is doing a bad job, and I perceive exist dangerous circumstances, I'd call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and tell him let’s move it to a different city,” the former president commented publicly. “He'd do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he would.”

Political Connections

Gianni Infantino has been open his attempts to be closely connected with the former president prior to next year’s tournament, planned to be staged in multiple US locations across the America along with several in Canada and a few in Mexico. The head has appeared at multiple Oval Office functions, had Trump hand over the Club World Cup trophy after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his FIFA's internal meeting to join Trump on a journey to the Arab region earlier in 2025.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the removal of FIFA World Cup games from different locations. In late September, Seattle and San Francisco faced comparable comments, with Trump claiming both locations were “governed by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they’re doing,” while challenging the security conditions of both areas and suggesting that matches could be removed.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he responded days later at a conference in the UK capital.

“It is the organization's event, under our authority, the organization determines such choices,” the vice-president declared. “With all due respect to national heads, football is more important than any individual and the game will endure their tenure and their policies. That’s the strength of football, that it is transcends any individual and more important than individual states.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s reply to a question about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“In case I believed Los Angeles was not going to be adequately ready, I would relocate it to another location if necessary,” he remarked. “Regarding that event I may have to obtain a different kind of permission, but we would take that action.”

Official consent Trump alluded to would must come via the IOC. Their leader, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her role in this year and has not yet meet publicly with him, though she said that she hopes for a discussion with him at eventually.

Additional Criticism

The former president also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of this year’s LA wildfires, remarking that a similar situation could result in the removal of the event.

“If the governor is uncooperative, we are going to have to be very tough,” Trump commented.

His statement was just as unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better clean up their act,” he said. “That is I will say.”